From Intern to Hired: Ahmea Parham’s Path to Sales Representative

The hum of the Kansas City, MO converting plant and the sheer scale of the plant shifted Ahmea Parham's perspective immediately. Like many entering the packaging industry, she initially saw a box as a simple item, but she quickly realized that behind every flap and fold lies a sophisticated web of data and logistics. Her journey from intern to full-time Customer Service Representative (CSR) and now to her current roles as Sales Representative wasn't just a change in job title; it was a deliberate immersion into the pulse of the plant. By floating between different departments, Ahmea didn't just observe the process, she lived it. This cross-departmental exposure transformed her understanding of the industry, linking high-level office data to granular, machine-level performance

The transition from student to professional can often feel like a leap of faith, but for Ahmea, the landing was softened by the support of Pratt’s leadership. Supervisors and mentors empowered her by providing a deep understanding of the business, rather than just a list of tasks. They encouraged her to ask the "why" behind the "how," providing a bridge that allowed her to move confidently from a learning phase into a leadership mindset. Thanks to this mentorship, she accepted her full time offer ready to navigate an industry and role she knew well.

Reflecting on this growth, Ahmea notes: “Transitioning from an intern to a full-time team member at Pratt has been an incredibly rewarding journey. My internship was well-rounded and hands-on, but what truly resonated with me was the power of data within the organization. The opportunity to float between different departments allowed me to learn operations from all facets of the company, making it a seamless transition into my full-time role.”

Ahmea’s career revolved once again as she transitioned from her role as a CSR into her current position as a Sales Representative. This moves allows her to leverage the technical precision and human connection she developed during her time in customer services.

Because of that early exposure, she stepped into her new position with a deep understanding of how Pratt operates as a whole. As a sales representative, she can now put the knowledge gained in customer service to use to better respond to customer and plant needs, ensuring work flows smoothly while managing high-level expectations. ,

She understands that being a good sales representative isn't just taking orders. They are the connective tissue between the customer’s needs and the plant’s capacity. Every time she processes a complex request or manages an inventory shift, she is turning those early cross-departmental insights into real-world action, proving that at Pratt, an internship is the foundation for a career that moves as fast as the machines themselves.